The courtyard was in complete chaos. Xu Fen’s hair had been scorched, and there were also obvious burn marks on his face.
The fire on his body was only extinguished after he rolled once in the snow. At this moment, having escaped death, he lay on the ground gasping for air.
The Xu family’s faces were all full of anger.
Xu Mother rushed forward, saliva flying: “What is there that can’t be spoken properly? We are staying in the Hu family, but it doesn’t mean we are people to be humiliated as one pleases.”
Yu Tingwan had an outer robe draped over her shoulders, standing there all alone.
“He attempted to behave improperly toward me.”
Wang-Shi never expected Xu Fen to be so daring and reckless. Aside from her shock, she was more regretful that he hadn’t succeeded.
Truly useless!
She followed the Xu family in scolding Yu Tingwan.
“No matter what, it was wrong of you to strike someone.”
“If your Second Brother Xu had suffered something bad, how would I explain that?”
Originally this matter was clearly the Xu family’s fault, and they had no leg to stand on. But once Wang-Shi got involved, even Xu Mother became self-righteous, pointing at Yu Tingwan and cursing.
“He entered your room just to get handsy with you? Did my son tear your clothes or grope you?”
“What are you pretending for? If you didn’t seduce him, if you were proper, would my son have come seeking disgrace?”
These words were vulgar. If it had been any other girl, she would have already died of shame and anger.
But Yu Tingwan did not.
The wind blew her hair; she reached out and tucked it behind her ear, saying not a word.
The younger Xu-Shi had already forgotten the fear Yu Tingwan had once instilled in her.
“Yu Tingwan! Just how big a grudge do you have with my Second Brother to harm him like this!”
Xu Mother’s shrewd little eyes turned around. She aggressively declared, “In any case, if this matter doesn’t have a proper explanation, don’t expect to have a good time either!”
The commotion here was no small matter — even the village head was alarmed.
When he came over, the outside of the Hu family’s house was already blocked by many villagers whispering among themselves. Before he even went in, he had already understood what happened.
“That Xu Fen came earlier to propose marriage. Hu Dazhu didn’t agree. Who would’ve thought he’d still be so stubborn — at night he actually wanted to sneak into Wan-niang’s room.”
“His mother is inside now throwing a tantrum, saying Xu Fen’s injuries have everything to do with Wan-niang. The room was also broken into, so Wan-niang’s chastity must be compromised. If she wants her reputation, she should just marry Xu Fen.”
“Pah, truly shameless — trying to trap a wolf barehanded.”
The village head’s face sank. As soon as he entered, he saw Xu Fen lying on the ground, complexion dark and features unremarkable.
At this moment, Xu Fen was quite pleased with himself.
“Cousin Yu, just accept me already.”
“Things have come to this — why let everyone keep laughing?”
Yu Tingwan’s anger surged upward, impossible to suppress.
She stepped forward with a cold face, and landed two kicks straight onto Xu Fen’s face on the ground.
“Ah!”
“You dare hit my son!”
Xu Mother’s eyes widened as she was about to roll up her sleeves, but would the people of Xilin Village let her get away with it?
Li Lian rushed over and pulled Yu Tingwan back.
“Good child, don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”
“This matter—we will definitely get justice for you.”
If it weren’t for her strength, Yu Tingwan would’ve already dashed forward and given a couple more kicks.
“A bastard like you also dares to harbor delusions about me?”
Yu Tingwan was extremely disgusted. With a cold laugh, she looked at Wang-Shi.
“What does Aunt think?”
Wang-Shi looked troubled.
“Wan-niang ah, I see that this child Xu Fen truly cares about you. It’s true that this matter is his fault, it was just a moment of confusion, and then…”
“But after tonight, if you don’t marry him, who else could you marry?”
“Even if you’re innocent, it’s no longer something that can be clearly explained. In Aunt’s opinion, why don’t our two families become relatives through marriage?”
“Have you said enough?”
Yu Tingwan was completely merciless.
“Ever since the incident happened, Aunt has only spoken in favor of the Xu family, and hasn’t said a single word for me.”
“And rightly so. Aunt cannot bear to see me doing well, so of course she’s in a hurry to push me into a fire pit.”
Wang-Shi choked.
But after what happened with the Dong family, with all eyes watching, how could she dare show anger toward Yu Tingwan?
“How could you see me like this?”
Yu Tingwan didn’t want to see her clumsy acting.
“Aunt blamed me from the very start for injuring him.”
Wang-Shi didn’t deny it and felt justified: “That’s still your cousin-in-law’s biological younger brother.”
“What Aunt means is that I must swallow this silent loss. That he broke in during the night, and I shouldn’t have resisted. Even if I were assaulted, I should let it go for the sake of Cousin-in-law?”
Wang-Shi’s eyes widened. Seeing the village head’s face turn black, she quickly denied it.
“No, what I meant was, the Hu family only has so much space, and I live right next to you. If you had just shouted, I would have come. How could I have let you suffer?”
“Now the whole village knows about it—what good could that possibly do you as a young unmarried girl?”
These words made most of the people present nod their heads.
After all, family disgrace should not be made public.
Yu Tingwan showed no emotion, her voice indifferent.
“If I hadn’t fought back, if this beast thing had covered my mouth, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even have had the chance to call for help.”
“Even if I had called for help, I don’t believe you would have saved me.”
“Aunt still doesn’t understand? I’d rather have my reputation ruined than hand my life over to you. What about reputation? What could possibly be more important than preserving myself?”
Wang Shi became angry: “You dare to…”
“Enough!”
The village head roared: “Still not enough of a joke?”
“Wang Shi! You are the elder in the role of an aunt!”
“If the Xu family were a decent household, I wouldn’t say anything—but that Xu Fen is a well-known scoundrel!”
Xu Mother was displeased: “What are you saying?”
The village head forcefully cut her off: “This is Xilin Village! Wan-niang is someone from my Xilin Village! Do you get to speak here? I don’t care if you’re relatives—if I, the village head, decide to drive your whole family out, not a single person would dare say otherwise!”
“If this marriage is allowed to happen today, then in the future, won’t all those ruffians who can’t get a wife start plotting, sneaking into our village girls’ rooms in the dead of night?”
“Can I be the one to set this precedent?”
For a moment, everyone watching the scene held their breath, turning into angry silence.
That’s right! This isn’t just about Yu Tingwan anymore! Who doesn’t have daughters at home?
Yu Tingwan’s back remained straight as a rod, but in truth, she was still full of lingering fear.
If she hadn’t been sleepless, if she hadn’t…
She didn’t dare think further.
She looked coldly at Xu Mother: “Your son is a beast. Just looking at him makes me feel tainted, even speaking to him feels filthy.”
“Don’t talk about his plan failing tonight—even if he had succeeded, so what? The fault is not mine, nor should the shame be mine. You take me for those thin-skinned girls, who, when something happens, get manipulated by you all and don’t dare make a sound?”
These words—Xu Fen did not like hearing them.
He dropped his fake smile, speaking darkly: “You have the face to look down on me? I didn’t even look down on your mother…”
The rest of the sentence he never got to say—he was scared into silence by Little Xu-Shi, who clamped a hand tightly over his mouth.
This matter was a taboo in the Hu family. Little Xu-Shi had learned it from the drunken mouth of Hu Dalang, and after returning to her maiden family, she let it slip without much thought.
But she had warned them again and again not to speak of it outside.
Who would’ve thought it would come to this?
Yu Tingwan: “What about my mother? Speak. Let him say it!”
Little Xu-Shi trembled in fear.
Not to mention that Wang Shi’s expression changed, even the emotions of the people present became strange along with it.
“If I, Yu Tingwan, were to marry, then the other party must also be someone open and aboveboard, who walks upright and sits properly.”
“You say I seduced him?”
She looked as if she had heard some kind of joke.
“My seduction—was it because I was taken with his ugliness, or because I wanted to marry into the Xu family that’s so poor they jingle when they walk, just to be their ox and horse?”
“Or was it because I admire his ability—being of such an age and still only knowing how to sneak around like a thief, showing off what he thinks is cleverness?”